Milo stover, forage sorghum, prairie hay, soybean meal and urea compared for growing heifers

Abstract

Milo stover silage, prairie hay or forage sorghum silage was fed in rations containing 10, 12 or 14% protein from soybean meal (SBM) or 12% protein from urea; 100 heifers were fed in the 78-day growing trial (November 11, 1977 to February 2, 1978). Heifers fed forage sorghum silage, prairie hay or forage sorghum silage + prairie hay had similar rate and efficiency of gains; those fed milo stover silage made slowest and least efficient gains. Rations containing prairie hay were consumed in the greatest amounts. Feeding rations with 12 or 14% protein from SBM gave better performance than rations with 10% protein from SBM. Heifers fed urea gained slower and less efficiently than those fed SBM. Gain from a ration containing equal parts of milo stover silage and forage sorghum silage exceeded predicted gain by 7.8%, and efficiency was 13.9% better than predicted.